(Editor’s note: Colin Flaherty has done more reporting than any other journalist on what appears to be a nationwide trend of skyrocketing black-on-white crime, violence and abuse. WND features these reports to counterbalance the virtual blackout by the rest of the media due to their concerns that reporting such incidents would be inflammatory or even racist. WND considers it racist not to report racial abuse solely because of the skin color of the perpetrators or victims.) Videos linked or embedded may contain foul language and violence.

Jakiyah McKoy, age 7, had everything it took to win the Little Miss Hispanic Delaware crown. But two things kept her from keeping it: One, she was black. Two, she was undocumented.

There’s even an online petition at Change.org, “demanding Jakiyah McKoy keep her rightfully won crown, because her beauty represents us all,” said Daniel Jose Older to the Wilmington News Journal. “There is just like a baseline of disrespect to black women. As Latinos, it’s really important that we understand what’s going on with us and that we reclaim this girl as our sister. This is our sister, and she is being unfairly excluded.”

That is hardly the story we heard shortly after the pageant from El Tiempo Hispano.

“There was uproar when the winner was announced because, according to the public, she was not the best representative of a Latin beauty.”

Ayala’s daughter was the first runner-up who became Little Miss Hispanic Delaware after McKoy lost the top spot – and the $500 prize money, awarded at the end of the year.

The controversy centers around how some people confuse race and ethnicity. Hispanic is a term that represents people whose ancestors come from Spanish-speaking counties. Many Hispanics are of African descent, as is Jakiyah McKoy.

At least that is what her parents say: That her grandmother was from the Dominican Republic. But they did not have the papers to prove she was Hispanic.

City Councilwoman Maria Cabrera is the media’s go-to person for Hispanic issues in Wilmington. She attended the pageant, which has run for several years now. Cabrera said she agrees with the decision to disqualify McKoy, but regrets that it “divides African-Americans and Hispanics.”

As is often the case surrounding race-based activities, ironies abound: “Does anyone else see the irony in the fact that Hispanics are demanding documentation for participation?” asked David Lutes at Delawareonline.com.

Ayala was not deterred: “I am very proud of myself and yes you are welcome since two of my daughters participated in this pageant and now know that many people lie about their heritage and try to say they Spanish when they’re not. My daughters know where their (sic) from the day they was born. Viva MEXICO.”

Many of the on-line comments in and out of Delaware wondered if race-based pageants are an idea whose time has passed.